Exploring Studio Materials – Color Pencils

Dry medium : Color pencils by different brand products

I have explored the characteristics of colored pencils as an art medium, and I would like to share my findings with you. Colored pencils are an accessible medium for everyone from young students to adults thanks to their ease of use. Let’s consider how colored pencils can be effectively utilized in art education to enhance students' work.

Materials :

• Canson Graduate Mixed Media Pad

• Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Colored Pencils

• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

• Crayola Colored Pencils

• Pencil Sharpener

• Eraser

Additional Resources with Colored Pencils 

• Generally, using colored pencils requires a sharpener and an eraser. While sharpening colored pencils during class does not create airborne dust, the coarse shavings can transfer onto students' artwork and affect the result. Therefore, it is recommended to sharpen them over a paper plate or trash can.

• Although colored pencils are typically used on white paper, they can also be used on dark-colored paper—such as black, gray, or brown. White or bright, vivid colored pencils will stand out beautifully on colored paper.

My  Comfort Level

• I feel comfortable working with colored pencils, and I find them easy to use when teaching students in art classes. They offer the advantages of being clean to handle and producing no dust. Also, compared to wet materials, a major advantage for me is that colored pencils allow us to continue working quickly without needing to wait for anything to dry. 

• I need to further practice the technique of using colored pencils over dried watercolor paint to achieve a wider range of expressive effects. For students who struggle to create fine details using paint alone, incorporating colored pencils over their watercolor work can serve as an opportunity to explore different materials.

Age Appropriateness

• Winsor & Newton’s manufacturer recommended that colored pencils are good to use for aged 12 and up. These colored pencils are produced for adults and developing student artists.

• Prismacolor Premier colored pencils are suable to use age 6 years and up.

• Crayola colored pencils are suggested to use age 5 years and up.

• Overall, I would suggest for Pre-K and kindergarten students to use thick colored pencils in art class, while students in 1st and above use standard colored pencils.

Heathy and Safety Concern

• Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Colored Pencils, Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, and Crayola Colored Pencils are certified non-toxic and safe to use for students. I checked the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) AP (Approved Product) seal on the three products.

Strengths and Limitations

• Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Colored Pencils – 12 colors

Strengths   - Smooth and easy for expression

- High color saturation

- Colors blended softly

Limitations – Expensive for student usage

- Soft color tones( Need to apply multiple layers for clear expression)

• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils – 12 colors

Strengths   - Smooth for expression

- Vivid color

- Easy to overlap different colors

Limitations – Expensive for student use

- Stiffness varies depending on the color                 

-Colors do not mix well

• Crayola Colored Pencils – 12 colors

Strengths   - Good price for student usage

- Deep color

- Simple the color name for young students

Limitations – Stiff feel during use

- Difficult to express stippling technique

- Colors do not mix well

- Difficult to sharpen the pencils

Price Information for Purchasing Materials

• Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Colour Pencil, 24 Ct : Premium

$ 29.20 Walmart / $ 32.24 Michael’s Stores

• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, 24 Ct : Premium

$ 24.99 Target / $ 29.99 Michael’s Stores

-Michael’s store has a wide variety of colored pencils is available for purchase, though they tend to be expensive compared to the colored pencils commonly used by children.

• Crayola Colored Pencils, Pre-sharpened, 24 Ct : Student grade

$ 3.29 Target /  $ 7.99 Michael’s Stores

-Target and Walmart sell the product with low-priced even though the same products.

* Pricing information was obtained on October 1, 2026. Prices are subject to change in accordance with the store's policies.

Reflection of Material Exploration with Color Pencils

I drew a whale swimming underwater using a set of 72 Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. I layered various colors to depict the clouds and coral reefs and used at least four different shades of blue to represent the deep ocean. While applying more pressure would have resulted in more intense colors, I chose to build up the color by layering lighter tones; this was because colored pencils do not blend as seamlessly as paints.

If you try drawing with color pencils, you’ll be able to explore the unique characteristics of the medium!